Harajuku is a Mecca of the Japanese teenage culture. You can see streets with shops selling clothes, accessories, and any other necessary goods for teenagers. Along those streets, there are always young kids hanging around, wearing avant-garde looking clothes and costumes.


This area became popular when Olympic was held in Tokyo in 1964. There were facilities built for the athletes from all over the world. Some shops started their business exclusive for the foreigners. Soon, teenagers started visiting the shops, enjoyed communication with them, and adopted their sense of fashion. In the 1980s, Takenokozoku appeared in this area. Takenokozoku, literally meaning “bamboo shoot group”, were those teenagers wearing avant-garde looking clothes, and dancing on the street with dance or techno music. They came to Harajuku, and kept dancing all day.


When you leave the station at Takeshitaguchi, you will find Takeshitadori street ahead of you. The car-free street used to be filled with Takenokozoku dancers. This street was also famous for the number of shops selling goods by comedians, artists and musicians. The decline of Japanese economy affected the number of those shops and their visitors. Nonetheless, teenagers, especially from outside Tokyo, still visit this area frequently, and enjoy and share their fashion. In addition, if you go to the other exit, Omotesandoguchi, you will find the Jingubashi bridge. That is where you can still see those wearing costumes and hanging around all day like Takenokozoku used to do. Although they are the small number, teenagers share the similar sense beyond generations.